With the success of Iron Man 2, it appears that comic book movies aren’t going anywhere, and several more are coming in 2010.

But whether comic book movies are based on well-known superheroes, quirky independent books, or just “kick-ass” concepts, their success begs the question: What’s next?

Shared Universe

One of the obvious new trends in comic book movies is the “shared universe,” where different movies overlap characters and introduce new franchises, sometimes even teaming up for movies. With hints that Superman could show up in Green Lantern and Iron Man showing up in The Incredible Hulk, the concept is well on its way to becoming a reality.

Marvel and DC seem to both be taking business steps to consider these movies a foundation for a much larger pyramid…

Now that Marvel has revamped their current state of continuity with the Heroic Age of comics, lots of books are getting a fresh start. One of the books we’re pretty excited for is the upcoming first issue of X-Men.

From Victor Gischler and Paco Medina, this revamp marks the first time there has been an X-Men #1 in nearly 20 years. According to a Marvel press release, the team will start things off with a bang by fighting a threat that will “alter the ENTIRE Marvel Universe!” We’re pretty stoked for it, to say the least.

Gischler is has been one of the lead writers for Deadpool over the past few years, including Merc With The Mouth andDeadpool Corps.

I both love and fear watching my 11-year-old daughter Isobel embrace everything science fiction, fantasy, and comics. Love it because because I share her enthusiasm — As Stephanie S says, “I do believe that there is educational value in all forms of media, including television about teenage vampire slayers.” Fear it because Iz is both smart and beautiful — and female characters with those traits often get treated badly in fantastic realms. Especially in fantastic comics or graphic novel realms.

If it is irritating raising a girl in a culture obsessed with living blow-up dolls, it is even even more so when my daughter falls in love with intelligent, capable characters like Marvel’s Emma Frost or Misty Knight, then sees those women’s bodies drawn like living blow-up dolls.

Before you know it, every comic book character will have it’s own movie. Shouldn’t it have it’s own genre by now? I want them to make a Space Ghost movie a reality. I know it’s not a Marvel entity, it’s Hanna-Barbera, but wouldn’t it be cool watching him fight those villains Moltar, Zorak and the Black Widow in outer space?

What do you think of the new X-Men?

Would having more strong female character who kick ass instead of being the damsel in distress or extremely Barbie-like in proportion bring in more female comic book fans? What’s your opinion?